Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy will be aware that in November last year I published the Smart Schools = Smart Economy report, which is the new action plan for integrating ICT in schools. The report, which was produced by the joint advisory group, which the Minister established earlier last year, builds on the earlier strategy group report, Investing Effectively in ICT in Schools. It makes recommendations to support the integration of information and communications technology in teaching and learning in schools and contains recommendations across a number of areas, such as ICT infrastructure, enhanced broadband connectivity, initial teacher training and continuing professional development, provision of digital content, etc.

I am in the process of setting up a steering group to advise and oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the report. It will comprise key interest groups including teachers, parents, industry, relevant Departments and students, and will commence its work shortly. As a first step in implementing the recommendations of the report, €22 million in ICT grants was issued to primary schools in November 2009. Funding for post-primary schools will be made available this year.

While the opportunities for student participation offered by the use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom are recognised, effective investment in this technology is dependent on an existing positive ICT culture in schools, and on an existing desirable level of ICT access throughout the school. For these reasons, the priority use of the ICT grants issued in November is directed to ensuring that there is a teaching computer and digital projector in every classroom. The teaching computer will be connected to the schools' local area network and to the digital projector in order to access and show curriculum-based digital content. The reports I mentioned, Investing Effectively in ICT in Schools and Smart Schools = Smart Economy, advise that this combination is an extremely useful and effective teaching tool that facilitates a range of learning opportunities in whole-class teaching scenarios.

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